Feeder mechanism



1962 H. J. ZWALD 3,051,354

FEEDER MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Henry J. Zn a/d ZMCYM ATTORNEY 1962 H. J. ZWALD 3,051,354

FEEDER MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v E T g v l I i i i if I i i W 2 l Z I M g 5% 45 b 44 "C IBIINVENTOR I 1 WW f/erzryJZwa/d 5 MQMM ATTORNEY 1962 H. J. ZWALD 3,051,354

FEEDER MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Hen/ a JZWaH @MEM Aug. 8, 1962 H. J. ZWALD 3,051,354

FEEDER MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Henry J Zwa/d BY Maw ATI'ORNEY United States Patent 3,051,354 FEEDER MECHANISM Henry J. Zwald, Seneca Falls, NY, assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 13,927 4 Claims. (Cl. 221166) This invention relates to feeder mechanisms and more particularly to a feeder mechanism for feeding eyelets, and the like, to a receptor from an unsegregated mass of eyelets.

Eyelets of various configurations have been found useful in the manufacture of electron discharge devices or tubes. As an example, they have been used in cathode ray tubes primarily as shields to alleviate the problems due to deposition of conductive materials released by the tube elements during operation. The cathodes of some tubes are operated at relatively high temperatures. At these temperatures certain of the cathode metals in the cathode base alloy have a tendency to leave the cathode. Additionally, the emissive oxide materials, which are present upon the cathode base to form the electron emitter, are reduced to their pure metals components such as barium, strontium or calcium. These metals also leave the cathode during tube operation. Furthermore, flashing of the getter to remove residual gases during production results in the introduction of metallic particles within the tube envelope. All of thesematerials deposit on the cooler portions of the tube such as in the neck region where the leads pass through the glass to the tube interior.

The filament and other electrodes which form the electron gun, such as focusing grids, control grids, and accelerating anodes, are supported in the tube by the plurality of conductive lead-in pins which pass through a glass stem or wafer sealed to the neck of the envelope. Voltages of various magnitudes and kinds are impressed on the electrodes to generate, shape, and control the electron beam. These voltages are connected to the electrodes by the stern lead pins, which are in turn connected to the external circuitry. Cathode ray tube stems are generally compact and, as a result, there is little separation between the lead pins at the stem surface. Deposition of the aforementioned conductive materials on the surface of the stem produces electrical leakage paths between the leads which undesirably alters the tube function and shortens its useful life.

One expedient generally employed to overcome this problem is the corrugation or beading of the glass surface adjacent the leads. In time, even these corrugations become coated to form the leakage paths. Of the various other solutions which have been proposed, one of the most successful has been the use of a funnel shaped eyelet secured in an inverted position to the leads at a point spaced above the glass surface. The neck or tubular portion of the eyelet embraces the lead and is secured thereto. The cone shaped portion of the eyelet produces a shadowed area on the stem, adjacent the lead, where the condensation or deposition of conductive materials is prevented. In this manner, the formation of the deleterious leakage cannot occur.

Wide spread use of the eyelets for this purpose had been retarded due to the time and cost involved in sorting and alignment prior to use. Eyelets are mass produced and are shipped to the tube manufacturer in an unsegregated mass or bulk. Prior to this invention, eyelets had to be individually selected by hand, oriented, and transported to a receptor on the eyelet securing apparatus. The tediousness of this task contributed greatly to operator fatigue, which in turn resulted in occasionally omitted eyelets with subsequent rejection of the assembled mount or, if undiscovered in the assembly process, failure of a completed tube due to leakage currents between the leads. The low 3,051,354 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 speed at which this operation was performed resulted in uneconomical production rates prohibiting the use of eyelets in large quantities.

Additional difficulties were encountered in fabricating stems of this type due to defective eyelets. Defects encountered were primarily of two types; either the partial closure of the eyelet internal passageway due to deformation of the walls or burrs, or the clogging of the passageway by foreign material. Additional problems were due to eyelets having an out-of-round neck. Visual inspection was virtually impossible due to the small size of the eyelets, and percent mechanical inspection was impractical. Therefore, it was not unusual for stems to be damaged by an assembler while attempting to force a defective eyelet over a lead, thus causing rejection of the stem.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to increase the rate of alignment and sorting of articles such as eyelets or the like from an unsegregated mass of the articles.

It is another object of this invention to decrease finished article rejection due to remedial eyelet defects.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide apparatus for delivering groups of oriented eyelets, in sequence, from an unsegregated mass of eyelets with a high degree of certainty that a full group will be delivered each time.

The above objects and advantages are achieved in one aspect of the invention by the provision of an eyelet feeder which includes means for placing eyelets in receiving or positioning members in a hopper containing an unsegregated mass of eyelets. Transfer means, for removing the aligned eyelets from the receiving members and delivering them to a remote position, are mounted at a transfer station adjacent the hopper. The eyelet removing or pick up means are provided with members that are entered into each of the eyelets.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a feeder mechanism with some parts broken away and some parts omitted in the interest of simplicity and clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation in partial section of an eyelet;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus with some parts broken away and some parts in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in partial section of a portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the indexing means taken along the line 77 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a plan view in partial section of the turret brake taken along line 88 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 1-3 are a series of sequential views of the apparatus showing the pick-up of a plurality of eyelets for simultaneous transfer to a receptor, and delivery to the receptor.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a hopper 20, with its bottom in the form of a rotatable disc or turret 22, mounted on the apparatus frame or platform 24. A plurality of individual eyelet receiving members 26 are mounted in housings 28 adjacent the periphery of the turret 22. Transverse wall 30 divides the hopper and serves as a means for containing a relatively large number of eyelets 32 in the major portion 34 of the hopper 20. Eyelet positioning means '36 are mounted adjacent the hopper 20 for positioning eyelets in the receiving members 26 while they are in the larger portion 34' of the hopper. Eyelet transfer means 38 are mounted adjacent the hopper 20, at a transfer station T, for removing the eyelets from the receiving members 26 and delivering them to a remote position at which a receptor 40' is located. Receptor 40 forms a part of the apparatus described in my co-pending application entitled Securing Apparatus, Serial Number 13,928, filed March 9, 1960, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. Indexing means 42 sequentially rotates the disc 22 thus advancing the filled receiving members 26 from the major portion of the hopper to the transfer station T. Operation of transfer means 38 is coordinated with the step by step movement of the turret and operates intermediate the periodic movements of the receiving members 26.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, the turret 22 is shown in an indexed or rest position intermediate its step by step rotation. Turret 22 is attached to central shaft 44 which is rotatably supported by shelf 46 affixed by spacers 48 to the platform 24.

Periodic operation of fluid motor 50, by means not shown, produces the indexing movement of turret 22. Yoke 52, is secured to ram 54 and controls the movement of roller 56 which is mounted on one end of bolt 58. Bolt 58 pivotally secures one end of a link 60 within the cleft end of a second link 62. The other end of cleft link 62 is pivotally held on platform mounted support 64 by screws 66. Link 60 extends between the roller carrying pivot bolt 58 and bifurcated indexing operator 68 where it is connected by pin 69. Operator 68 is oscillatably mounted about shaft 44 and surrounds ratchet wheel 70 which is secured to the shaft by a pin 72. Pawl 74 swivels on through pin 76 and is resiliently urged into contact with the ratchet teeth by spring 78. Stop 80 limits the spring urged movement of the pawl and also restrains the pawl during indexing. Reciprocation of ram 54 through the linkage formed by links 60 and 62 results in the step by step advance of the turret.

Referring now to FIG. 8, brake 82 restrains the rotation of turret carrying shaft 44, except when the shaft is driven in the forward direction by the operator 68, by applying friction to the shaft. The brake comprises a pair of semi-circular rigid members or brake shoes 84, pivotally mounted by screws 86 to the shelf 46. They are urged 'by spring 88 against shaft mounted brake drum 90. Brake shoes 84, 86 are lined with frictional material 92 such as leather. The friction produced by the brake may be adjusted by using screw 94 to compress or release spring 88.

Referring next to FIGS. 5, 6 and 10, each of the eyelet receiving members 26 is provided with a recess 96- in one end. The recess configuration complements the outer contour of the particular eyelet 32 to be fed by the apparatus. The central bore 98 of the recess is elongated to provide a partial receptacle for receiving foreign matter removed from the eyelet during the transfer operation as will be explained later.

A plurality of receiving member housings 28 are secured at spaced intervals to the turret adjacent its periphery by screws :100. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, eight such housings are provided. The indexed positions of the turret, with which the housings register in sequence, may be designated alphabetically as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and the previously mentioned transfer station T. Each of the housings 28 is provided with a plurality of receiving members 26 arranged in a spaced pattern corresponding to the eyelet receiver arrangement to be found in the receptor '40. The receptor pattern is determined by the type of stem to which the eyelets are to be secured. When the arrangement of the receptor 40 is changed to accommodate other tube types, the housings must also be changed to coincide therewith.

The position of the receiving members is adjusted so that the recess bearing ends protrude a short distance above the surface of the turret for reasons which will be explained later. The lower end of each of the receiving members 26 passes through an opening formed in a cam follower 102 and is retained therein by a spring 104. The cam follower is urged against shelf 46 by spring 106. The ends of the spring are retained in recesses 108, in the housing and follower, respectively. Replaceable nibs 112, afiixed to each of the followers slide on the shelf in a circular path as the turret is indexed. A surface cam 114, curved to conform to the path of the nibs 112, is secured to the shelf 46 in the nib path. Cam 114 is positioned so that it has a gradual rise 116 beginning at a point between indexed positions F and G, a dwell 118 adjacent transfer station T, and a rapid drop ofi 120 between T and A. The cam cooperates with the followers to raise the receiving members 26 further above the surface of the turret for purposes which will be explained later.

The eyelet positioning or distributing means 36 for agitating the mass of unaligned eyelets in the hopper includes an oscillatable trident distributor 122 mounted on vertical shaft 124. Eyelet contacting members 26, which may be relatively stiff bristle brushes as shown in FIG. 5, are affixed to each finger of the distributor. The distributor 122 positioned on the shaft 124 is so adjusted that the ends of the brushes 126 are spaced slightly above the ends of the receiving members.

Shaft 124 is supported by bracket 128 secured to the platform. Arm 130 is mounted on shaft 124 and is pivotally connected at one end by screw 131 to a link 132. Link 132, through screw 133, connects arm 130 to a rotatable disc 134 attached to the output shaft 136 of a gear motor 138. Operation of the motor 138 rotates disc 134, which rotation is translated into oscillation of the distributor about the axis of its mounting shaft 124 by cooperation of the link 132 and arm 130 since the distance between shaft 124 and screw 131 is greater than the distance between shaft 136 and screw 133. The angular movement of the distributor sweeps the brushes over the receiving members at positions B," C, D and E. While a trident distributor 122 has been illustrated and described it is conceivable that one or more arms may be used, any or all of which may carry brushes or the like, for agitating the eyelets contained in the hopper.

A typical eyelet 32, as employed in cathode ray tubes, which may be fed by the subject feeder is shown in FIG. 2. The eyelet has a wall thickness of .005 inch. The walls of the cone shaped portion 140 are inclined 30 degrees with respect to the eyelet axis and join at 141 with a .050 inch long tubular segment or neck 142. The larger end of the cone terminates in a flange 144 having an outer diameter of .140 inch. The diameter of the central bore 146 of the eyelet is .036 inch which is substantially the same as the diameter of the lead pin. with which it is to be joined. The length of the eyelet is .095 inch and is measured along its longitudinal axis which passes through the cone and tubular portions centrally. The above recited dirnensions are approximate and are offered only as exemplary of the capabilities of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

Adverting to FIG. 9, excess eyelets removal means 148 is positioned adjacent station G. The excess removal means includes a brush or eyelet contactor 150 mounted on bracket 152 fastened to the wall of the hopper. The receiving members 26 are partially elevated by cam 114 at this station, as shown in FIG. 3. As the turret indexes the brush sweeps the ends of the members 26 as they move past the station, removing eyelets which are not fully seated in the member and eyelets which may be adhering to the sides of the members. When an eyelet is properly seated the flange 144 is at or below the surface of the receiving member and therefore will not be disturbed by the brush.

Referring to FIG. 10, the eyelet transfer means 38 at station T includes eyelet pickup means 153 having a housing 154 containing a plurality of transfer pins 156 which are aligned in a pattern complementary to the pattern or grouping of the receiving members 26. Transfer pin housing 154 is held in an aperture formed in bracket 155. Each of the transfer pins 156 is slidably retained in a recess 158 in the housing by the cooperation of pin head 160 and ledge 161 in the recess. Spring 162 reacts between the pin head 160 and set screw 164 to resiliently urge the pin to its maximum extension beneath the housing 154.

The configuration of a typical transfer pin 156 is shown in FIG. 6 in greater detail. A uniform diameter portion 166 adjacent the free end 168 of the pin has a diameter at least as large as the bore 146 of the eyelet 32. The free end 168 of the pin is conical and serves as a guide for the pin when entering into an eyelet. The diametric relation between the pin and eyelet bore produces an interference fit which causes the eyelet to adhere to the pin. Tapered pin portion 170 joins the eyelet diameter matching segment 166 to the base diameter portion 172. In the event that eyelet bore 146 is oversize, the interference fit is produced between the tapered portion and the eyelet. This pin configuration allows the same housing 154 to be used with various eyelets by merely replacing the pins 156 with those having end diameters corresponding to the eyelet size.

Eyelet removal means 174 has a stripper disc or bar 176 made with a plurality of through openings 1'7 8. Each of the openings 178 is associated with one of the transfer pins 156. Stripper bar 176 is slidably supported in the transfer pin housing '154 by rod 180 which passes through the center of the housing. The loose stripper is kept from dropping free of the pins by groove 182 in the rod which cooperates with screw 184. Bottom surface 186 of the stripper 176 is slightly below the plane of the junctions 188 of the tapered portions 170 and uniform diameter segments 166 of the pin when there are no eyelets held on the pins When eyelets are present, the bottom surface 186 of the stripper rests on the flanges 144 of the uppermost eyelet. The stripper bar is displaced upwardly from its rest position when the eyelets are on the pins because the eyelets extend upwardly above the junction 188 on the pin.

Stripper bar operator means 194 includes a momentarily actuatable fluid motor 196. Reciprocatable ram 198, of the motor 196, is longitudinally aligned with the stripper rod 180. Actuation of fluid motor 196 causes the ram 198 to strike the end of the rod 180*. Sufficient force is delivered to the stripper bar 176 to push the eyelets 32 off the pins 156. This removal operation is performed when the transfer means is in registration with the receptor 40. Motor mounting bracket 200 is affixed to support 155.

Adverting to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the transporting means 202 moves the eyelet pickup 153 vertically and horizontally in a prescribed sequence of movements intermediate the indexing steps of turret 22. Synchronization of these movements is obtained by use of a plurality of timing switches, not shown.

Horizontal movement of the pickup means 153 from a position adjacent the receiving members 26 at turret position T to a position at the receptor 40 is produced by fluid motor 204. Pickup means support bracket 155 is mounted on a slide 206 movable in a slideway formed by gibs 208 secured to vertical member 210. Roller 212, affixed to slide 206, cooperates with yoke 214 secured to ram 216 of fluid motor 204. Reciprocation of ram 216 causes yoke 214 to move roller 212 and thus the slide in the desired direction independent of the vertical position of the slide. The bright portion of yoke 214 is reduced at 218 to clear the shaved hopper wall section 220 when reciprocated. Recess 221 in the hopper wall at T provides clearance for the pickup means 152 during the transfer operation.

Reciprocating movement of vertical member 210 is produced by operation of fluid motor 222 which is mounted on bracket 224 secured to the platform. (See FIG. 3.) Ram 226 of the fluid motor is connected to member 210 by a relatively rigid disc-type connector 228 clamped tightly between blocks 230, 232 secured to the member 218. Movement of the member 210 through an aperture 233 in the platform is controlled by shaft 234 and guide block 236-, both of which are secured to support 238 beneath platform 24. Shaft contacting bushings 240 are contained in recess 242 within a boss 244 formed adjacent one end of member 210. The opposite end of the slideway is restrained by the walls of groove 246 in guide block 236.

Reference will now be made to a typical cycle of operation of the present machine, to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the invention. This description will deal with the progressive positioning, feeding and transfer of the eyelets in one group of receiving members through the several stations of the machine. However, it is to be understood that the mechanism at the several stations are operative during each index interval for the sequential positioning, feeding and transfer operation.

A mass of un-aligned eyelets 32 is placed loosely in the major portion 34 of the hopper 20 to a depth of several eyelets. Distributor or agitator 122, driven by continuously rotating motor 138, is oscillated and thus agitates the eyelets. This agitation causes the eyelets to have a generally random movement. As the eyelets are moved, as for example over the receiving members at station C, the tubular portions of some eyelets will enter an unoccupied recess 96 in a receiver 26. Note that the fact that the ends of the receivers 26 protrude above the surface of the turret 20 (FIG. 5) causes the eyelets to tumble as they are moved to and fro. This increases the statistical probability of an eyelet being properly positioned in a receiving member.

After an interval the turret indexes moving a group of receiving members to station D, and subsequently to station E. The positioning or aligning of eyelets also occurs at both of these stations in the same manner as described for station B. The net result is that when each of these groups of receiving members 26 reaches station F, in turn, each recess 96 is filled with an eyelet. v

The receiving members 26 pass beneath the transverse wall 30 at station F. Wall 30 is spaced far enough above the turret surface so that one layer of eyelets may pass beneath it but a greater quantity will be skimmed off and kept in the major portion of the hopper. The wall is resilient so that eyelets are not crushed between the wall and the turret when the turret is indexed.

During the movement from station F to station G, the nib 112 which has heretofore moved on the level surface of shelf 46 (FIG. 5- encounters the rise 116 of cam 114. Cam 114 causes cam follower 102 to rise thus extending the receivers 26 above the surface of the turret. The ends are therefore above the single layer of eyelets on the surface of the turret. Movement of the receivers through station G brings excess eyelet removal means 148 (FIG. 9) into play. Brush sweeps the excess or clinging eyelets from the receivers as they move by. Those eyelets which are properly seated are fully within the recess and therefore remain undisturbed.

A subsequent index brings the group of receivers 26 to transfer station T. Operation of eyelet pick-up and transfer mechanisms are coordinated with the indexing means so that the eyelet pickup function is performed during a dwell period. Of course, the horizontal transfer operation may occur during the dwell also or during the indexing movement of the turret for faster delivery rates. The receivers 26, at station T, are fully extended by the dwell portion 118 of cam 114. At the initiation of the eyelet pickup operation the transfer pins 156 are at rest above the corresponding ones of the receivers 26.- Operation of fluid motor 222 causes a vertical member 210 to descend carrying with it the pickup means 153. As the pickup means 153 descends the ends 168 of the pins enter the eyelets passing into the central bore 146 of the tubular portion 142. Sufficient force is applied to drive the uniform diameter portions 166 of the pin 156 into the eyelet until further penetration cannot be made. In the event that the bore 146 is over size, the pin 156 enters the eyelets until the tapered portion of the pin 170 can be driven no further into the eyelet. As previously explained, an interference fit is produced between the pin and eyelet deliberately so that the eyelet will adhere to the pin when the pin is raised. The descent of the pin through the eyelet rounds the neck and smooths out any deformation or burrs which may be present in the neck. It also cleans the bore 146 of foreign matter. The force which pin 156 can apply is pre-set by spring 162 to prevent bending or distortion of the pin in case its penetration to its usual depth in the eyelet is prevented by non-yielding material.

The eyelet removal means 174 descends with the pickup means 153 until the stripper bar 176 contacts the receivers 26. As shown in FIG. 11, the housing 154 continues to descend although the pins 156 and stripper are arrested thus compressing the springs 162. A predetermined amount of pressure, determined by the travel of the housing, can thus be applied to the eyelets.

When fluid motor 222 is reversed the eyelet pickup means 153 is retracted. As it begins to ascend the transfer pins 156 are extended as the springs 162 decompress. As the eyelets 32 are lifted out of the recesses 96 in the receivers 26, the eyelet which has been penetrated to the greatest degree and therefore is further up on its transfer pin than its fellows, contacts and lifts the stripper bar as shown in FIG. 12. In the event that an eyelet should become jammed in the recess 96 therefore joining the pin 156 and the receiver 26, spring 104 allows the receiver to be pulled upwardly until the transfer pin or eyelet pulls loose. This prevents distortion of the receivers 26. Spring 104 returns the receiver to its proper position after release of the eyelet or transfer pin.

Upon complete retraction of the pickup means 153, timing means, not shown, operates fluid motor 204 to advance slide 206 to bring the pickup over the receptor 40. Fluid motor 222 is once again operated when the pickup is over the receptor to lower it to the discharge position (see FIG. 13). Then fluid motor 196 is momentarily actuated to drive ram 198 sharply against stripper rod 180, The eyelets 32 are driven from the pins and drop into recesses provided in the receptor. Motor 222 is operated to retract the pickup 153 and motor 204 is reversed to bring it back over the turret in opposition for its next pickup or removal operation.

The apparatus heretofore described has enabled the electronics industry to use eyelets as it had never before done. Eyelets which previously would have caused assembly difliculties are readily put into usable form without additional handling or sorting operations. Rejection of cathode ray tube stems for faults attributable to the eyelets have been reduced thus increasing the productivity of the assembly operation.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a feeder for eyelets the combination comprising; a hopper, said hopper having a bottom in the form of a rotatable disc; a plurality of eyelet receiving members mounted on said disc and adapted to receive said eyelets in an aligned position; means for containing a mass of eyelets in one portion of the hopper; means for positioning said contained eyelets in said receiving member;

means for sequentially rotating and stopping said-disc for moving said receiving members from said one portion to a transfer position; eyelet transfer means located adjacent the transfer position for picking up said eyelets from said receiving members and delivering said eyelets to a remote position; and means to operate said transfer means during the stopping of said disc.

2. In a feeder for eyelets the combination comprising; a hopper, said hopper having a bottom in the form of a rotatable disc; a plurality of reciprocable eyelet receiving members adapted to receive said eyelets in an aligned position, each of said receiving members peripherally mounted with the ends thereof in a given plane above said disc; means for containing a mass of eyelets in one portion of the hopper; means for agitating said mass of eyelets whereby said eyelets are positioned in said receiving members; means for sequentially rotating and stopping said disc for moving said receiving members from said one portion to a transfer position; means located adjacent the transfer position operable to elevate said receiving members above said given plane located adjacent said transfer position; and transfer means for removing said eyelets from said elevated receiving members and delivering said eyelets to a remote position, said transfer means being operable during the stopping of said disc.

3. In a feeder for eyelets the combination comprising a circular hopper; a rotatable turret forming the bottom of said hopper; a plurality of housings mounted at spaced intervals on said turret adjacent the periphery of said turret; a plurality of elongated eyelet receiving members each having one end formed to provide a recess complementing the outer configuration of an eyelet to be received therein, said receiving members being mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement in each of said housings from a given position with said recessed end adjacent said turret surface to an extended position, said receiving members arranged in groupings in each of said housings, each of said groups of receiving members provided with a common cam follower; a transverse wall across said hopper dividing said hopper into a larger portion and a small portion; means for agitating a mass of eyelets contained Within said larger portion; means for producing step by step movement of said turret whereby said housings are advanced from said larger portion of said hopper to a transfer position in said smaller portion; cam means located adjacent said transfer position for cooperation with said cam follower for extending said receiving members; and eyelet transfer means located adjacent said transfer position for removing said eyelets from said extended receiving members for delivering said eyelets to a remote position; said transfer means be ing formed to operate intermediate the step by step movements of said turret.

4. In a feeder for eyelets having an opening extending therethrough the combination comprising a circular hopper; a rotatable turret forming the bottom of said hopper; a plurality of housings mounted at spaced intervals on said turret adjacent the periphery of said turret; a plurality of elongated eyelet receiving members each having one end formed to provide a recess complementing the outer configuration of an eyelet, said receiving member being mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement in each of said housings from a given position with said recessed end adjacent said turret surface to an extended position, said receiving members arranged in identical groupings in each of said housings, each of said groups of receiving members provided wtih a common cam follower; a transverse wall across said hopper dividing said hopper into a larger portion and a smaller portion; means mounted above said larger hopper portion for agitating a mass of eyelets contained therein; means for producing step by step movement of said turret whereby said groupings of housings are advanced from said larger portion of said hopper to a transfer position in said smaller portion; cam means located adjacent the transfer position for contacting said earn followers and for extending said receiving mieimbers; eyelet pickup means reciprocably mounted adjacent the transfer position for removing said eyelets from said receiving members for delivery to a remote position, said pickup means comprising a plurality of tapered pins arranged in a grouping substantially complementary to the grouping of said receiving members in said housing and aligned therewith, said pins having one end formed with a diarn- 10 eter at least as large as an opening in said eyelet and 10 adapted to enter said eyelet; means for reciprocatingly moving said pickup means in one plane whereby said pins enter said eyelets; means for reciprocatingly moving said pickup means in a second plane for positioning said 5 pickup means adjacent said remote position; and means for removing said eyelets from said pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,892,567 Smith June 30, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 O5l,354 August 28 1962 Henry J, Zwald It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 43, for "screws" read screw column 5, line 70,, for "bright" read hight vcolumn 7 line 52, for "opposition" read position column 8 line 22, strike out and transfer means" and insert the same after "plane" in line 21, same column 8.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 1963.

(SEAL) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD ERNEST W. SWIDER Commissioner of Patents Attesting ()fficer 

